Floor box cover assembly

ABSTRACT

A cover assembly for a floor box includes a base with a central opening and a cover pivotally connected to the base by a hinge member. The hinge member has a hinge body with a first end pivotally connected to the base for pivoting with respect to the base and second end pivotally connected to the cover for pivoting with respect to the cover. A tab extends from the second end of the hinge body to contact a bottom surface of the cover to limit pivoting movement of the cover with respect to the hinge body. A slide surface is provided on the base that contacts an end of the cover during pivoting movement of the cover to prevent wear on a gasket with the opening of the base.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a cover assembly having a base anda hinged cover that pivots about 180° between an open position andclosed position. The invention is particularly directed to a coverassembly having a hinge assembly that permits the cover to lay flat onthe floor in the open position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrical floor boxes are known in the art for covering electricalreceptacle and other electrical devices when not in use. Often the floorbox has a hinged cover that pivots from a closed position to an openposition. Many floor boxes have a top surface that is raised from thefloor creating a lip that interferes with the use of the box.

One example of prior a floor box is disclosed in U.S. Patent PublicationNo. 2010/0072198 to Roemer et al. This patent application discloses afloor mounting container for an electrical device where the cover canpivot 180° to lay flat in the open position. The hinge includes a hingeblock having one end pivotally connected to the flange of the containerand a second end pivotally connected to the cover.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,476 to Zeliff et al. discloses a floor box having acover hinged to the box and a notch in the cover for receiving an egressdoor. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0054135 to Galasso et al.discloses a recessed electrical outlet box having a hinged cover thatcan pivot 180°. The hinge of Galasso et al. is a four part hinge havingtwo interconnected links between the frame and the cover.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,760 to Takimoto, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,350 toMorgan disclose biaxial hinge assemblies having a single link connectingtwo hinge portions together to allow the hinge to pivot 180° and layflat on the frame.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0053679 to Galasso et al. alsodiscloses a recessed outlet box having a cover that can pivot 180°. Asshown in FIG. 12, the hinge has two interconnecting links connected tothe hinge member on the lid and the hinge member on the frame.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,301,100 to Drane et al. discloses a floor box cover thatis hinged to the flange. As shown in FIG. 12, the cover can pivot 180°to lay flat against the floor. The hinge includes a pin made of aresilient material such as steel. When the cover is opened, the pinflexes to permit translational movement of the cover and pin and createsa biasing force to urge the cover in a forward position.

GB 2 241 389 discloses a floor box having a hinged cover where the hingehas two interconnecting links to allow the cover to lay flat when in theopen position.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,579,549 to Jolly discloses a floor box having a coverthat can pivot open and then retract into a slot in the face of the box.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,851,703 to Drane discloses a gasket forming a sealingmember around the opening of a door. The gasket has a water-resistantcoating to provide a releasable and repositionable adhesive sealingsurface prior to curing.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,459,632 to Bowman discloses a floor box having a hingedcover with a hinged egress door. The egress door has a sealing member onone side to form a seal between the egress door and the lid.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,041 to Almond Inc. discloses a floor box having ahinged cover and an egress door. The cover does not pivot 180° withrespect to the frame.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,662 to Riedy et al. discloses a floor box with ahinged cover and an egress door. The frame of the floor box includes agasket for forming a seal. The cover includes a spring and a cam surfaceto secure the door in the closed position.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0236023 to Wang et al. discloses ahinge assembly for an electronic device such as a notebook computer. Thehinge device includes a series of washers mounted on a pivot pin toprovide sufficient friction to hold the hinge in the selected position.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0206603 to Drane discloses a latchingfloor box cover having a lid pivotally connected to the frame, a latchon the frame, and a lid biasing device positioned between the lid andthe frame where the biasing device is in engagement with the frame tourge the lid away from the closed position when the lid is unlatched.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,355 to Yuhara discloses a vanity case having asliding latch mechanism in the housing and a hinged cover that is openedby a spring as shown in FIG. 3.

While these devices have been generally suitable for the intendedpurpose there is continuing need in the industry for improved coverassemblies for floor boxes and hinge assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a floor box cover assembly wherethe cover pivots 180° between a closed position and an open position.The invention is particularly directed to cover assembly where the covercan pivot to an open position and lay flat on the floor surface withoutinterference from the base of the cover assembly on the floor surface.

Accordingly one object of the invention is to provide a cover assemblyfor a floor box having a hinge assembly that enables the pivoting of thecover between a closed position where the cover is flush with the topsurface of the base and an open position where the cover can lay flat onthe floor.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a cover assembly having ahinge assembly with a hinge body that is pivotally connected to the baseand pivotally connected to the cover. The hinge assembly enables a freerange of movement of the cover with respect to the base.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a cover assembly for afloor box having a base and hinged cover. The base has a surface thatcontacts an edge of the cover during opening and closing of the cover toform a sliding surface to prevent excess wear to a gasket providedbetween the cover and the base. The gasket is positioned within acentral opening of the base to form a seal between the cover and thebase. The sliding surface is provided to contact the pivoting end of thecover during opening and closing to prevent sliding contact of the coverwith the gasket and to guide the end of the cover to the closedposition.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a cover assembly for afloor box where the cover is received in an opening in the base with thetop surface of the cover flush with a top surface of the base when thecover is in the closed position. The cover is able to pivot to the openposition with the top surface of the cover contacting a portion of thetop surface of the base.

The cover assembly of the invention includes a hinge assembly thatenables the cover to pivot to lay flat on the floor in the openposition. The hinge assembly has a hinge body with one end pivotallycoupled to a first end of the base and a second end pivotally coupled toa first end of the cover. The second end of the hinge body has a tabthat extends from the hinge body to contact the bottom surface of thecover to limit pivoting movement of the cover with respect to the hingebody. The tab enables the hinge body to pivot with the cover about thepivot axis between the base and the hinge body while closing the cover.

The cover assembly includes a base with a central opening and a flangeextending into the central opening. A gasket is provided on the top faceof the flange to form a seal between the cover and the base. A slidemember extends upward from the face of the flange to form a slidesurface at the top face of the gasket so that the end edge of the coverslides on the slide member to prevent sliding contact with the gasket.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a cover assembly having abase and a hinged cover where the cover has a sliding latch assembly tolatch the cover in the closed position. The latch assembly has anactuating member that is received in a recess in the cover so that thesliding latch body and the actuating member are flush with respect tothe cover and the base.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a cover assembly with asliding latch assembly having a latch body coupled to the cover forsliding movement between a closed position and an open position. Thelatch body has two outwardly extending arms extending from oppositesides of the latch body. An actuating member is pivotally coupled to thecover and has a pair of detents that engage the arms on the latch bodyto slide the latch body to the open position.

These and other aspects of the invention are basically attained byproviding a cover assembly for a floor box where the cover assemblyincludes a base, a cover and a hinge assembly. The base defines acentral opening for accessing the floor box. The cover has a dimensionto close the central opening of the base. The hinge has a hinge bodywith a first end pivotally coupled to the base about a first pivot axisand a second end pivotally coupled to the cover about a second pivotaxis. A tab extends from the second end of the hinge body to contact abottom surface of the cover to limit pivoting of the cover with respectto the hinge body about the second pivot axis during closing of thecover.

The features of the invention are also attained by providing a coverassembly for a floor box including a base defining a central opening foraccessing the floor box where the base has a first end and a second end.At least one slide surface is provided in the opening at the first endof the base. A cover is included having a dimension to close the centralopening and contact the slide surface during opening and closing of thecover with respect to the base. A hinge has a hinge body for pivotallycoupling the cover to the base. The hinge body has a first end pivotallycoupled to the base at the first pivot axis and a second end pivotallycoupled to the cover at the second pivot axis.

The various objects of the invention are also attained by providing acover assembly for a floor box including a base, a cover and a hinge.The base defines a central opening for accessing the floor box and has aflange spaced from a top face of the base and extends into the centralopening. The cover has a dimension to close the central opening and tomate with the flange. The hinge has a hinge body coupled to the coverand the base to pivot the cover with respect to the base between an openand closed position. The cover is substantially parallel to the base inthe open position and is received in the central opening in the closedposition.

These and other aspects, object and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of the inventionwhich in conjunction with the annexed drawings disclose variousembodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following is a brief description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the floor box cover assembly in oneembodiment of the invention showing the cover in the partially openposition;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cover assembly in one embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the cover assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is partial top perspective view of the cover assembly of FIG. 3showing the cover in the open position;

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of the hinge assembly;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the hinge assemblyshowing the cover in the closed position;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the hinge assemblyshowing the cover partially open;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the hinge assemblyshowing the cover in the open position and laying flat against the topsurface of the base;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the hinge assemblyshowing the cover being pivoted from the open position to the closed tothe open position and showing the cover sliding on the slide surface;

FIG. 10 a partial cross-sectional side view of the hinge assembly ofFIG. 9 showing the cover pivoting toward the closed position;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the cover of FIG. 10pivoting to the closed position;

FIG. 12 is cross-sectional view of the base, hinge assembly and cover inthe open position taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the cover engaging the hingebracket while closing the cover;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the cover in the closed position;

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the cover assembly showing the access doorsof the cover in the open position;

FIG. 16 is a partial bottom view of the hinge of the access doors withthe retainer removed showing the hinge assembly and compression spring;

FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the access door with the compressionspring washer;

FIG. 18 is top view of the compress spring washer of FIG. 14;

FIG. 19 is a side view of the compression spring washer of FIG. 15;

FIG. 20 is a partial top view of the cover showing the latch assembly inone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 21 is a top view of the latch assembly showing the actuator memberin the open position;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the latch assembly taken along line22-22 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the latch assembly showing the armextending from the slide latch and the detents of the actuator memberfor actuating the slide latch;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the latch assembly showing theactuating members sliding the slide latch toward the unlatched position;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the latch assembly showing theslide latch in the unlatched position;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing the slide latch in the openposition; and

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the actuating member of the latchassembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a cover assembly for an electricalbox. In particular, the invention is directed to a cover assembly foruse with a floor box that is mounted in a floor to allow access toelectrical components mounted in the box.

The cover assembly of the invention as shown in the drawings includes acover assembly 10 having a base 12 and cover 14. The cover assembly 10is configured to coupling to an electrical box 16. The electrical box 16in the embodiment shown is a floor mounted box that is intended to bemounted in the floor of a building so that the electrical components areaccessible to the user. The electrical box 16 can be any suitableconstruction as known in the art and is mounted in the floor so that thetop edge is substantially flush with the floor surface. In theembodiment shown, the electrical box 16 has an open top end configuredfor coupling to the cover assembly. The electrical box 16 typicallyencloses electrical wiring device such as electrical receptacles, videoconnections and data connections.

Referring to FIG. 2, the base 12 has a substantially rectangularconfiguration in the embodiment shown although the shape and dimensionsof the base can vary depending on the intended use and the dimensions ofthe electrical box 16. The base has a central opening 18 for allowingaccess to the electrical components within the electrical box 16. Thebase 12 has a substantially flat top surface 20 and a recessed area 30defined by an inwardly extending flange 22. The flange 22 is positionedbelow and recessed with respect to the top surface 20 of the base 12 toform the recessed area 30 below the top surface 20 of the base 12. Aside wall 32 extends between the flange 22 and the top surface 20 of thebase 12 to define the depth of the recessed area 30. The inner edge 24of flange 18 defines the dimensions of the central opening 18. As shownthe flange 22 completely surrounds the central opening 18 to form acontinuous surface. A plurality of screw apertures 26 are formed in theflange 22 for receiving mounting screws to attach the base to the topend of the electrical box 16.

A gasket 28 is provided in the recessed area 30 on the flange 30 to forma seal between the cover 14 and the base 12 when the cover 14 is closed.The gasket 28 is preferably made from a resilient rubber material thatis able form a waterproof or water tight seal between the cover 14 andthe base 12 to prevent water and dirt from entering the box 16. As shownin FIG. 2, the gasket 28 has an outer dimension corresponding to theinner dimension of the recessed area 30 of the base 12 so that thegasket 28 fits within the recessed area 30. The gasket 28 is providedwith a central opening 34 have a dimension corresponding to thedimension of the central opening 18. Preferably the gasket surrounds thecentral opening 18 with a continuous surface to provide the water tightseal between the cover 14 and the base 12. The gasket can be attached tothe top surface of the flange 22 by an adhesive to prevent separation ofthe gasket 28 from the cover assembly 10. The gasket 28 preferably has aplurality of holes 29 overlying the screw holes 26 for accessing themounting screws within the screw holes 26.

The flange 22 of the base 12 has a width to mate with cover 14. Theflange 22 is formed with longitudinal side portions 36, a first endportion 38 and a second end portion 40 opposite the first end portion38. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the flange 22 and side wall 36 ofbase 12 forming the recessed area 30 include a raised member 42proximate the first end portion 38. The raised members 42 in theembodiment shown are provided at each corner of the recessed area 30 atthe first end portion 38. In one embodiment, the gasket 28 has athickness corresponding to the height of the raise member 42 so that thetop flat face 43 of the raised member 42 is substantially flush with thetop surface of the gasket 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the gasket 28 has anotched portion 44 in the two opposite corners to receive the raisedmembers 42. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a raised portion 42 isprovided in two corners of the recessed area at the first end portion 38of the flange 22. Alternatively a raised member can be provided in eachof the four corners of the recessed area 30 as shown in FIG. 1.

The cover 14 is pivotally coupled to the base 12 by a hinge assembly 46.The hinge assembly 46 is configured to enable the cover 14 to pivotbetween a closed position shown in FIG. 3 and an open position shown inFIG. 4. Preferably the hinge assembly 46 allows the cover to pivot openso that the cover 14 lays flat on the top surface 20 of the base 12 andthe surface of the floor in which the cover assembly and electrical boxare mounted. The hinge assembly 46 also enables the cover 14 to pivot tothe closed position shown in FIG. 3 where the cover 14 is seated in therecessed area 30 of the base 12 with the top surface of the cover 14substantially flush with the top surface 20 of the base 12. The hingeassembly 46 provides a full range of pivoting movement of about 180degrees.

The hinge assembly 46 includes a hinge mounting bracket 48 that iscoupled to the first end portion 38 of the flange 22 as shown in theFIG. 2 and FIG. 11. The hinge mounting bracket 48 is attached to theflange 22 by screws 49, rivets or other suitable fasteners. The mountingbracket 48 in the embodiment shown has a body portion 50 with a U-shapedmember 52 at each end for pivotally coupling to a hinge body 54. Asshown in FIG. 11 the body 50 of the hinge mounting bracket 48 is spacedfrom the flange 22 and has a top end substantially flush with the topsurface of the base 12. Each U-shaped member 52 has a bore 56 forreceiving a pivot pin 58. In one preferred embodiment two U-shapedmembers 52 are provided for supporting two hinge bodies 54 forsupporting the cover 14.

Each hinge body 54 is configured for pivotally coupling the cover 14 tothe base 12 and allowing a full range of pivoting motion between thecover 14 and the base 12. The hinge body 54 has a longitudinal dimensionwith a first end 60 and a second end 62. The first end 60 of the hingebody 54 has bore 64 for receiving the pivot pin 58 and pivotallycoupling the hinge body 54 to the bracket 48 and the base 12. The bore64 and pivot pin 58 define a first pivot axis of the hinge body 54 withrespect to the base 12. The hinge body 58 is able to pivot with respectto the bracket 48 and the base 12 between a first position overlying theflange 22 and extending in a direction substantially parallel to theflange 22 with the cover 14 in the closed position as shown in FIG. 5and a position extending in an upward direction substantiallyperpendicular to the flange 22 with the cover 14 in the open position asshown in FIG. 6.

The second end 62 of the hinge body 54 has a bore 66 for receiving apivot pin 68 for pivotally coupling the cover 14 to the hinge body 54.The bore 66 and pin 68 define a second pivot axis of the hinge body 54spaced from the first pivot axis in a longitudinal direction withrespect to the longitudinal dimension of the hinge body 54. In theembodiment shown, the bore 66 lies in a plane that is offset from theplane of the bore 64. In this manner the bores 64 and 66 define twopivot axes that are space apart along the longitudinal dimension of thehinge body 54 and spaced apart in a generally transverse direction ofthe hinge body 54 so that the bore 64 is spaced adjacent a first side 70of the hinge body 54 and the bore 66 is adjacent a second side 72 of thehinge body 54.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 5-11, the hinge body 54 has a tab 74extending from the second end 62 in a substantially longitudinaldirection. In the embodiment shown, the tab 74 is aligned with thesecond bore 66 and is offset from a center longitudinal axis of thehinge body 54. The cover 14 has a first end 92 with two slots orrecessed portions 76 for receiving the respective hinge body 54. A hingepin 68 is recessed in groove 81 extending between hinge lugs 83 and iscoupled to the bottom side of the cover 14 by a mounting plate 82 thatis attached to the bottom side of the cover 14 by rivets 84, screws orother fasteners. Bosses 87 extend upward from the inner face of thecover 14 to align the plate during assembly. The hinge pin 68 is alignedwith the recessed portions 78 and extends through the bores 66 of thehinge body 54 to pivotally couple the hinge body 54 to the cover 14.

The hinge body 54 enables the cover 14 to pivot freely between the openposition and the closed position to lay flat against the top surface ofthe base 12 and the floor surface. Referring to FIG. 6, the cover 14seats on the gasket 28 and the hinge body 54 lies against the surface ofthe flange 22 in the closed position. The hinge body 54 preferably has adimension so that the side edge 70 is substantially flush with the topsurface of the cover 14 and the base 12. The cover 14 pivots toward theopen position shown in FIG. 6 about the first pivot axis so that thehinge body 54 pivots upwardly until the hinge body makes contact the topedge of the recessed area 30. The cover 14 continues to pivot to theopen position shown in FIG. 7 about the second pivot axis to lay flat onthe top surface of the base 12 and the floor surface.

To close the cover 14 the cover is pivoted from the position shown inFIG. 7 toward the position shown in FIG. 8. In the first portion of thepivotal movement, the cover 12 pivots about the first pivot axis definedby the pivot pin 58 in the bore 64 at the first end of the hinge body 54until the bottom face of the cover 14 contacts the tab 74 as shown inFIG. 10. The contact of the bottom face of the cover 14 with the tab 74causes the hinge body 54 to continue pivoting simultaneously with thecover 12 to the closed position shown in FIG. 6. The tab 74 limits thepivoting movement between the hinge body 54 and the cover 14 so that thehinge body 54 pivots to the closed position by pivoting about the firstpivot axis of the pin 58. The tab 74 prevents the first end of the cover14 from lifting upward from base when the second end of the cover islatched to the base. As shown in FIG. 6, the tab 74 prevents the hingebody 54 from pivoting about the first pivot axis without pivoting thecover open.

The end of the cover 14 engages the slide surface 43 of the raisedmember 42 during opening and closing of the cover 14 as depicted inFIGS. 9-11. The top slide surface 43 of the raised member 42 forms abearing surface for the edge of the cover 14 as shown in FIG. 8. Theraised members 42 are positioned on opposite corners of the recessedarea forming a bearing or wear resistance surface to contact the edge ofthe cover 14 during the pivoting movement of the cover 14 with respectto the base 12. The raised members 42 prevent the edges of the cover 14from sliding over the surface of the gasket 28 during opening andclosing of the cover 14 to prevent excessive wear to the soft andresilient gasket material.

The cover 14 as shown in FIG. 2 has a shape and dimension to be receivedwithin the recessed area 30 of the base 12. The cover 14 haslongitudinal side edges 90, a first hinge end 92, and a second front end94. A continuous rib 95 extends from the bottom surface of the cover 14to surround the opening in the base 12 and form a seal against thegasket 28. The rib 95 has a height to extend below the top face of theraised members 42 to ensure contact with the gasket 28 and form awatertight seal. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the corners at thehinge end of the cover 14 have a recess 97 with a dimension to receivethe top surface of the raised members 42 to enable sealing by the gasketat the corners of the cover 14.

The hinge end 92 has a pair of slots 96 for receiving the hinge body 54.As shown in FIGS. 12-14 the center portion of the hinge end 92 betweenthe slots 96 has an inclined face 98 that slopes from the top facetoward the bottom face of the cover 14. The inclined face 98 forms aflange that engages the body portion 50 forming a cross member of thehinge bracket 48 during the closing moving of the cover 14 with respectto the base 12 and slides over the surface of the cross member. Theinclined face 98 contacts the body portion 50 and slides around andunder the body portion 50 during the closing motion of the cover 14 sothat the inclined face extends under the body portion 50 when the coveris fully closed as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

The side edges 90 of the cover 14 each include an access opening 100 anda movable access door 102 to allow electrical cords to pass through whenthe cover 14 is closed. Each access door 102 has an inner edge with agasket 104 and an outer edge 106 for mating with the recessed area 30and the gasket 28 on the base 12. As shown in FIGS. 15-17, the accessdoors 102 each have two hinge pins 108 extending from opposite ends forpivotally coupling with the cover 14. The hinge pins 108 in theembodiment shown have a bent configuration so that the bearing 110 ofthe hinge pins are offset from the base 112 of the hinge pins 108. Thebearings 110 of the hinge pins 108 are received in a complementingrecess 114 in the cover 14 and held in place by a plate member 116. Theresistance to the movement of the doors 102 is provided by an axialcompression member such as a friction washer, rubber O-ring, springwasher or the like. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 a compression springwasher 118 is positioned between the recess 114 and the face of thebearing end 110 to provide a frictional force to the access doors 102 toretain the access doors in place while allowing the user to open andclose the access doors as needed. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 thecompression spring washer 118 has a generally round perimeter and afirst curved concave face and an opposite convex face that is compressedwhen inserted into the recess 114 to apply an axial compression or forcefrom opposite ends of the access door 102.

The front end 94 of the cover 14 has a sliding latch assembly 120 thatis able to latch the cover 14 in the closed position. The latch assembly120 includes a main latch body 122 that slides within an opening 124 inthe end of the cover so that the body 122 slides between a latchedposition and an unlatched position. A handle 126 is provided foractuating the sliding body 122.

Referring to FIGS. 22-25, the body 122 has a front end 128 with a latchmember 130 having a lower inclined face 132 to assist in closing thecover 14. A corresponding slot is provided in the end wall of the base12 to receive the latch member 130. In the embodiment shown, the sidesof the body 122 have a slot 134 that mate with a corresponding rib 136extending inwardly from the sides of the opening 124 to allow the body122 to slide in a linear direction with respect the plane of the cover14.

Each side of the body has an outwardly extending arm 138 that slides inan open area 140 in the cover 14 adjacent the opening 124. The handle126 as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 has a substantially U-shapedconfiguration with a pair of legs 146 where each leg has an outwardlyextending pivot pin 142 that is received in a corresponding hole 148 inthe cover 14 to allow pivoting movement of the handle 126 with respectto the cover 14 and the body 122. The legs 146 of the handle 126 have adetent 144 extending in a linear direction and perpendicular to the axisof the pivot pins 142 that engage the arms 138 on each side of the body122. As shown in FIGS. 21-27, the pivoting motion of the handle 126causes the detents 144 to engage the arms 138 to retract the body 122 tothe unlatched position. As shown in FIG. 22 a spring member 150 isincluded between the body 122 and the cover 14 to bias the body 122 tothe closed position.

While various embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the invention,it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changesand modifications can be made without departing from the scope of theinvention and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cover assembly for a floor box comprising: abase defining a central opening for accessing the floor box; a coverhaving a dimension to close said central opening, said cover having anouter face and an inner face opposite said outer face, said inner facefacing inwardly with respect to a cavity of said floor box; and a hingehaving a hinge body with a longitudinal dimension, a first longitudinalend pivotally coupled to said base at a first pivot axis and a secondlongitudinal end pivotally coupled to said cover at a second pivot axis,said second longitudinal end of said hinge body having a tab extendinglongitudinally from said second longitudinal end to contact said innerface of said cover to limit pivoting of said cover with respect to saidsecond pivot axis of said hinge body.
 2. The cover assembly of claim 1,wherein said cover is pivotable between a first closed position and asecond open position substantially 180° from said closed position. 3.The cover assembly of claim 2, wherein said base has a top face, saidtop face of said cover aligned with and coplanar with said top face ofsaid base when said cover is in the closed position, and said top faceof said cover lying flat against said top face of said base when saidcover is in an open position.
 4. The cover assembly of claim 3, whereinsaid first longitudinal end of said hinge body is pivotally connected tosaid base at a pivot axis positioned below said top face of said base,and where said second longitudinal end of said hinge body ispositionable with respect to said base between a first position belowsaid top face of said base and a second position above said top face ofsaid base.
 5. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said hinge body hasa transverse dimension and where said first pivot axis is spaced apartfrom said second pivot axis along said longitudinal dimension and alongsaid transverse dimension of said hinge body.
 6. The cover assembly ofclaim 5, wherein said tab on said hinge body extends in saidlongitudinal dimension of said hinge body in a longitudinal plane spacedfrom a longitudinal plane of said first pivot axis.
 7. The coverassembly of claim 1, wherein said base further comprises a recessdefining said opening, said recess having a ledge, a gasket support onsaid ledge for forming a seal between said base and cover, and said basehaving a raised surface spaced from said ledge and positioned next to atop face of said gasket, said raised surface configured for contactingsaid cover during opening and closing of said cover with respect to saidbase.
 8. The cover assembly of claim 7, wherein said hinge body iscoupled to a first end of said base and to a first end of said cover,said raised surface being positioned at said first end of said base tocontact an edge of said cover during opening and closing of said cover,and where said edge of said cover slides on said raised surface tominimize sliding contact of said edge of said cover on said gasket. 9.The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said cover has a first endpivotally coupled to said hinge body and second end having a latchassembly, said latch assembly comprising: a slide latch coupled to saidcover for sliding in a plane of said cover between a retracted positionand an extended latching position, an actuating member pivotally coupledto said cover, said actuating member having a pivot axis parallel tosaid plane of said cover and a first detent engaging a first side ofsaid slide latch and a second detent engaging a second side of saidslide latch, whereby pivoting said actuating member causes slidingmovement of said slide latch.
 10. The cover assembly of claim 9, whereinsaid slide latch has a first arm extending outwardly from a first sideof said slide latch engaging said first detent and a second armextending outwardly from a second side of said slide latch, and wheresaid detents of said actuating member engages said arms to pivot saidslide latch by pivoting of said actuating member.
 11. The cover assemblyof claim 1, said cover further comprising a cord access opening, and anaccess door pivotally coupled to said cover to close said cord accessopening, said access door having two opposing pivot pins pivotallycoupled to said cover to pivot said access door between a closedposition to close said egress door and an open position, a compressionspring washer on at least one said pivot pin and positioned between saidcover and said access door to apply an axial force against said accessdoor to retain said access door in said open position and said closedposition.
 12. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said hinge body hasa top face and a bottom face extending in said longitudinal dimensionbetween said first longitudinal end and said second longitudinal end,and where said tab extends along said bottom face of said hinge body insaid longitudinal dimension.
 13. The cover assembly of claim 12, whereinsaid first pivot axis of said hinge body is oriented in a first planeextending in said longitudinal dimension, and said second pivot axis ofsaid hinge body is oriented in a second plane extending in saidlongitudinal dimension and spaced from said first plane.
 14. A coverassembly for a floor box, comprising a base defining a central openingfor accessing said floor box, said base having a first end and secondend, a flange extending into said central opening and spaced from a topface of said base to define a recess, and a first raised member at saidfirst end and extending upwardly from said flange, said raised memberhaving a top face defining at least one slide surface in said opening atsaid first end; a gasket on said flange and surrounding said centralopening; a cover having a dimension to close said central opening andcontacting said top surface of said raised member during opening andclosing of said cover with respect to said base; and a hinge having ahinge body with a first end pivotally coupled to said base at a firstpivot axis, and a second end pivotally coupled to said cover at a secondpivot axis.
 15. The cover assembly of claim 14, wherein said raisedmember is provided on said flange extending into said central openingand spaced from a top face to define a recess, and said raised memberextends upwardly from said flange to define said slide surface spacedfrom a top face of said flange and said raised member being positionednext to said gasket.
 16. The cover assembly of claim 14, wherein saidtop surface of said raised member is substantially flush with a topsurface of said gasket.
 17. The cover assembly of claim 16, wherein saidbase has a first end coupled to said hinge body, and said first raisedmember is positioned at said first end of said base to contact a firstend of said cover during opening and closing of said cover.
 18. Thecover assembly of claim 17, wherein said base has a first side andsecond side extending between said first end and second end of saidbase, said first raised member positioned on said first side of saidbase at said first end and a second raised member on said second side atsaid first end of said base, and said cover having a first edge at afirst end of said cover to slide on said first and second raised membersduring opening and closing of said cover, and where said first andsecond raised members are oriented outwardly from said gasket.
 19. Acover assembly for a floor box, comprising: a base defining a centralopening for accessing said floor box, said base having a flange spacedfrom a top face of said base and extending into said central opening; acover having a dimension to close said central opening and to mate withsaid flange; a sliding latch member coupled to said cover for slidingmovement between a latched position and an unlatched position, saidlatch member having a first arm extending from a first side and secondarm extending from a second side; and an actuating member pivotallycoupled to said cover about a pivot axis parallel to a plane of saidcover, said actuating member having a first detent engaging said firstarm and a second detent engaging said second arm, whereby pivoting saidactuating member produces a sliding movement of said sliding latch; anda hinge having a hinge body coupled to said cover and said base to pivotsaid cover between an open position where said cover is substantiallyparallel to said base and a closed position where said cover is receivedin said central opening.
 20. The cover assembly of claim 19, whereinsaid flange has a first raised member on a first side at a first end ofsaid base and a second raised member on a second side at said first endof said base, said first and second raised members defining first andsecond slide surfaces for contacting a first end of said cover duringopening and closing of said cover.
 21. The cover assembly of claim 20,wherein said hinge body is coupled to said first end of said cover andsaid first end of said base.
 22. The cover assembly of claim 21, whereinsaid hinge body has a first end pivotally coupled to said first end ofsaid base and a second end pivotally coupled to said first end of saidcover.
 23. The cover assembly of claim 22, wherein said hinge body has atab extending longitudinally from said second end of said hinge body andpositioned to contact a bottom face of said cover to limit pivotablemovement of said cover with respect to said hinge body.